Anyone else getting sick of all these updates

parcival

It seems like every day when I boot up there are updates of some kind. The Microsoft updates seem to be more frequent than ever - 3 times this week already on my vista machine.
Also updates to apple, adobe, flash player also seem more frequent.

Are these all really required and if so do we need all these extra features.

If they are bug fixes then it doesn't say much for the base products.

RussJK

In short, mostly.

Security updates are there for a reason, to patch the latest exploits that are in the wild. These exploits allow attackers to install trojans/rootkits/keyloggers etc without any user interaction. An example of this is when a trusted site is hacked, a little script can be added that in the background takes your browser to a site with an exploit kit. The only hint you'll have that something is amiss is the browser will be a bit 'funny' and then crash.

I tested one of these exploit kits the other day, and it scares the **** out of me how easily they work.

The applications that are most targeted for exploits are:
Adobe PDF Reader > switch to Foxit or PDF XChange / only open PDFs with protected mode, or under Sandboxie
Sun Java > uninstall Java unless you really need it. Find an alternative to the program that needs Java.
Adobe Flash Player > use Noscript / use Adblock Plus with MalwareDomains subscription + Flashblock / use Sandboxie
Internet Explorer > learn how to make IE more safe to use (it's possible), or switch to Firefox, Opera, or Chrome.

Obviously there are exploits for any other web facing app, e.g. zip programs, IM, P2P, other browsers, FTP programs, etc.

Very worthwhile to continue the Windows updates - if MS bother to respond to an exploit, then there's a good reason for it. You should check all your product versions yourself, because if you are getting excessive updates for the same program it might be a trojan, e.g. a fake Flash update. Alternatively, it mightn't be updating properly, so without the latest patches you are unprotected.

A simple way is to manually check with the FileHippo Update checker, then manually install updates yourself:
http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/

santer_2

Just had Office Service pack at 305MB

S0litaire

i installed Win7 on my machine (was on XP PRo) and i spent the WHOLE day downloading and installing updates with countless reboot in-between... Not looked at the office one yet!!! >_<

I wiped and reinstalled my Ubuntu laptop Last month and it only took 2 hours from start to finish including updates and installing all programs!

I hardly boot up my Windows machine these days!! I only use it for keeping my microsoft skills upto date!

santer_2

This what gets me slightly

Additionally, the SP is a roll-up of all previously released updates.

No wonder it is 305MB if it includes downloading - re-installing all the ones you already have

On here it is 361MB

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26622

nzseries1

Aah, I remember the days when software developers got it right the first time. They weren't lazy, rushing to release products and then fixing the holes in them later.

I also remember the time you bought a games console and you could play the games immediately, Sonic the Hedgehog springs to mind. I went to see my friend's new Playstation 3 last week, and we sat down to play a game. Oh no, we just have to wait for a 650MB update to download and install before we can play. Playstation off - outside for fresh air instead.

toskdc

I tried to keep my mouth shut... I really did...

Yes I hate all these updates. But thats what M$ has to do when they release an operating system that not only has so many holes in it, but doesn't tell anyone its not ok to run as administrator all the time (and also doesn't provide adequate provision for user/admin accounts etc).

And yes, I too yearn for the days where I could get a game without having to download an update. Master System, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Playstation... just put in the cart/disc and you're off!!

My free download of Little Big Planet to my PSP as Sony's "Thank you" for losing PSN for a month or two had to have an update put on it soon as I got it.

(/rant)

(Thanks... feel so much better now)

Hammyman

nzseries1 wrote: »

Aah, I remember the days when software developers got it right the first time.

When was that then? Its certainly not in any of the last 28 years I've been using computers.

Hammyman

toskdc wrote: »

I tried to keep my mouth shut... I really did...

Yes I hate all these updates. But thats what M$ has to do when they release an operating system that not only has so many holes in it, but doesn't tell anyone its not ok to run as administrator all the time (and also doesn't provide adequate provision for user/admin accounts etc).

TBH, thats more to do with the fact that once upon a time PCs were for the technically competent people where you actually had to have technical knowledge to build, upgrade and use one whereas nowadays any drooling moron can mash at the keyboard. Once upon a time it was common knowledge about user account levels but nowadays people can't be bothered to learn just as long as they can get on Facebook and MSN.

For some reason I can't fathom, people will learn how to use all kinds of useless rubbish and read the manuals that come with it but can't be bothered to learn how to use a computer properly.

And MS do provide adequate provision for user/admin accounts and have for nearly two decades. Its not their fault you don't use them.

MarkBargain

RussJK wrote: »

The applications that are most targeted for exploits are:
Adobe PDF Reader > switch to Foxit or PDF XChange / only open PDFs with protected mode, or under Sandboxie
Sun Java > uninstall Java unless you really need it. Find an alternative to the program that needs Java.
Adobe Flash Player > use Noscript / use Adblock Plus with MalwareDomains subscription + Flashblock / use Sandboxie
Internet Explorer > learn how to make IE more safe to use (it's possible), or switch to Firefox, Opera, or Chrome.

Thanks for this useful advice. Does uninstalling Java cause many issues for general web use? I may well move away from Adobe for PDFs and I already use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer (albeit Firefox is mainstream too these days).

As a general comment, these updates must be a major pain for anyone on those 1GB mobile internet tariffs!

chunter

Definitely been a bad few days Msoft. Think that's about three reboots in the last 10 days.

Takes about 15-20 minutes each time to start the bloody machines, install the updates and restart the machines.

I wiped an Xp machine last week. After I installed SP3, I still had a round 100 Windows Updates to get done before the pc had settled any.. not including office updates.